Neither yesterday's afternoon heat nor the haze could stop Singaporeans from showing their appreciation and saying a final farewell to Singapore's longest-serving president, Mr S R Nathan, who was known for going beyond the call of duty for the nation.

One of them was Mr Satwan Singh, 68.

The security administrator was on his way to his office at Parklane Shopping Mall when he stopped in front of Parliament House at about 1.30pm.

Mr Singh told the The New Paper: "Even though he was the President, he was such an approachable and humble man.

At 2pm, the state funeral procession began when a ceremonial gun carriage carrying his casket, accompanied by a convoy of servicemen, left Parliament House for the University Cultural Centre (UCC) in the National University of Singapore.

The coffin bearer party, comprising nine uniformed personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Singapore Police Force, had earlier carried Mr Nathan's flag-draped casket on their shoulders before placing it on the 25-pounder gun carriage.

As part of the sombre ceremony, the procession passed by High Street Centre, where a crowd clapped and shouted: "Thank you, sir!"

The procession made its way past landmarks significant to Mr Nathan's career.

These included City Hall, where he reviewed the National Day Parade in 2000, 2005 and 2010, Fullerton Hotel, where he worked as a seamen's welfare officer at the Marine Department early in his public service career, and NTUC Centre, where he was assistant director of the Labour Research Unit within the newly formed National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

About 300 NTUC staff members gathered to bid farewell as the cortege went by.

The procession then travelled along Ganges Road, where more Singaporeans braved the haze, with many of them wearing masks, to join in the final farewell.

Chatter among a group of Isetan Singapore employees stopped the moment the funeral convoy was spotted in the distance.